LIVE BLOG: Coventry City v Port Vale

Good evening! We’re live at the Ricoh Arena as the Sky Blues look to complete a rare double over tonight’s visitors Port Vale.

The Sky Blues are still mathematically not down yet and despite relegation being a foregone conclusion, Mark Robins will be eager to record his first win since returning for a second spell in charge.

Follow all the action live here and remember to REFRESH your page for updates…

Match report and reaction to follow…

FULL-TIME – The Sky Blues have done it! They’ve recorded only their fifth home victory of the season to the joy of the home supporters who have braved the freezing cold to see Robins claim his first win as manager!

90+4 – Taylor’s in-swinging free kick is almost met by Smith at the far post but he can’t get the all-important touch. 2-1

Four minutes of added on time…

89 – Burge makes an excellent clearance from a corner, the Sky Blues break away with G.Thomas finding himself clean through on goal but he played the ball too far ahead of him and Mehmet comes off his line to gather the ball. Still 2-1

84 – Substitute for the Sky Blues. Reid comes off to a standing ovation and is replaced by defender Stokes. One of

81 – Substitute for the Sky Blues. Jones come on in place of Beavon who has put another shift in up front tonight. 2-1

Ten minutes to go here at the Ricoh Arena. The Sky Blues are 2-1 up but the home supporters are getting edgy. Just under ten minutes to go…

79 – Substitute for Port Vale. The visitors make their final change of the match as Tevares comes on in place of Purkiss. 2-1

74 – GOAL FOR PORT VALE! Taylor hits a free kick into the box which is glanced on and into the net by Smith. The visitors are right back in it now! 2-1

70 – Just moments later Reilly curls in a dangerous low cross that comes off a combination of K.Thomas and Rawson before landing in the goalkeeper’s hands. 2-0

69 – The Sky Blues come close to going 3-0 in front as Reilly hits a powerful shot at goal which Mehmet does well to take at the second attmept. 2-0

Tonight’s attendance has been given as 7,695

64 – The visitors are enjoying their best spell of the match at the moment. Winger Shodipo does well to cut inside and beat two players before unleashing a curling effort which is comfortable for Burge. 2-0

62 – Burge produces an excellent full stretch save to keep out Taylor’s volley which bounced off the ground and looked destined for the top corner. 2-0

61 – Substitute for Port Vale sees Eagles come off in place of Dan Turner

57 – Chris Eagles has Port Vale’s first shot but it drift high over the bar. His effort is met with ironic cheers from the travelling supporters. 2-0

54 – Reid instrumental again as he links up well with Beavon. The City winger played a great cross into the box which is met by Beavon on the volley but his attempt drops agonisingly wide. Decent chance that. 2-0

51 – Reid is urged to shoot by the home support and he does that but sends hit long range left-footed shot wide of the target. 2-0

There’s been a change at the break for the visitors. Sam Kelly has come on Billy Reeves.

We’re back underway here at the Ricoh Arena. The Sky Blues are 2-0 in front, let’s see if they can hold out for a first win under Mark Robins.

The Port Vale fans vent their frustration by booing their side off at half-time. They have yet to test Lee Burge in the Sky Blues goal.

It’s half-time here at the Ricoh Arena. Two moments of brilliance from Kyel Reid and Kwame Thomas has given the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Three minutes of added on time…

40 – GOAL FOR THE SKY BLUES! K.Thomas fires the hosts into a 2-0 lead with an audacious back heel after Beavon’s powerful shot had been palmed away by Mehmet! Another fantastic goal! 2-0

37 – GOAL FOR THE SKY BLUES! City take the lead! Reid runs away and celebrates with his team mates after hitting a wonderful 25-yard volley right into the top corner of the net! 1-0

34 – The game has quietened down somewhat. Reid has a chance as the ball falls kindly in the area instead of passing to Haynes he opted for a shot which was blocked and eventually cleared. 0-0

There’s a ripple of applause as academy graduates Stevenson and Kelly-Evans warm up in front of us

19 – G.Thomas hits a first time volley from the edge of the ball which sails wide of goal. Decent connection on his right foot but lacked the direction. 0-0

15 – Haynes delivers a dangerous looking ball into the box towards the lurking K.Thomas but Mehmet in the Port Vale goal made a good catch. 0-0

10 – It’s been a positive start by the Sky Blues in the opening ten minutes. Reid and G.Thomas are seeing a lot of the ball and looking creative. It’s still goalless. 0-0

4 – The first attempt on goal is from the home side. Gael Bigirimana is picked out by Reid on the edge of the box and the Sky Blues midfielder hits a low effort at goal but Mehmet gets down well to make a decent save. 0-0

2 – An early half chance for the Sky Blues. Reid picks out Beavon with a neat pass and the City striker tries to play G.Thomas through but the academy graduate is flagged offside. 0-0

We’re underway!

The players are out on a bitterly cold night here at the Ricoh Arena. We’re minutes away from kick-off!

TEAM NEWS: There are no fewer than five changes for the Sky Blues this evening. Stuart Beavon returns from injury in place of Marcus Tudgay, Ryan Haynes replaces Chris Stokes at left-back and Kyel Reid is preferred ahead of Ruben Lameiras. There is also a starting place for striker Kwame Thomas and Gael Bigirimana returns to the starting line-up.

Digital Advertising

Recruitment

The Coventry Observer is one of a group of local weekly newspapers spanning Worcestershire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands published by Bullivant Media - each newspaper providing all the latest local news, sport and advertising, in print and 247 on line.